Aquacoustics amigo User manual

amigo
A Navigation Aid for
Recreational SCUBA Divers
Thank you for purchasing the amigo. I trust that you ill find it to be a useful
navigational aid and that, through prudent diving practice, you ill never have cause
to rely on it.
To start using your amigo immediately ( ithout even getting et) go straight to the
Operation and Training sections of this manual starting on page 5. To get full utility
from your amigo please read these instructions in their entirety.
Figure 1. The amigo
( sho n approximately actual size )
Home of the
amigo

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Version 3.3 November 2016
Index
1. Warning .................................................................................. 1
2. Warranty .................................................................................. 1
3. Inventory .................................................................................. 2
4. Environmental Issues..................................................................... 2
5. amigo Care .................................................................................. 3
6. Transportation................................................................................ 3
7. Battery Charging ....................................................................... 3
8. Operation .................................................................................. 5
8.1 Po er On ....................................................................... 5
8.2 Change Channel ............................................................. 6
8.3 Transmit Mode ............................................................ 7
8.4 Receive Mode ............................................................ 8
8.5 Po er Off ....................................................................... 9
8.6 Serial Number Display ................................................. 9
8.7 Search and Rescue (SAR) Mode ...................................... 9
9. Training .................................................................................. 10
10. Dive Application ....................................................................... 10
10.1 Multiple Buddy Pairs............................................................ 12
10.2 Home Navigation ............................................................. 12
10.3 Missing Diver Procedures .................................................. 12
10.4 Mark for Return or Recover ....................................... 13
10.5 Confined Spaces ............................................................. 13
10.6 Night Diving ........................................................................ 13
10.7 Other Applications .............................................................. 13
10.8 Hand Signals ............................................................. 14
11. Maintenance ................................................................................... 14
12. About Your amigo ........................................................................ 15
Tables
1. Technical Data Summary ............................................................. 1
2. Inventory ................................................................................... 2
3. LED Display Modes .;;;;;;;;;;;..................... 6
4. Receive Mode Display ;;;;;;........................................ 8
Figures
1. The amigo ........................................................................... Cover
2. Attaching the Charge Clip ;........................................................ 4
3. Key Features ....................................................................... 5
4. 360 Search .................................................................................. 9

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Table 1. Technical Data Summary
Characteristic Measurement
Effective Range: Greater than 30 m (100'). Typically 100 m
submerged (subject to alignment & conditions).
Weight: 65 g (2.3 oz), approximately neutrally buoyant.
Dimensions: 105 mm x 42 mm x 21 mm (4.1" x 1.6" x 0.8").
Depth: Hermetically sealed and pressure tested to 70 m
(230').
Temperature Range: 0 to 30°C (32 to 86°F).
Environment: Salt or fresh ater and air.
Transmit Frequency: 40 kHz.
Life: More than 15,000 hours dive time (MTBF).
Signal Display: 8 segment LED bar graph ith contrast
enhancing filter.
Battery: Lithium Polymer cell providing approximately 50
hours dive time bet een charges.
Battery Charger: Universal AC mains and/or USB charger.
1. Warning
Your amigo is an under ater navigational aid. It is not a life-safety device.
Al ays dive ith a buddy and endeavour to maintain contact in accordance
ith recreational SCUBA diving recommendations.
2. Warranty
Your amigo has been hermetically sealed and pressure-tested to a depth of
70 m (230') and thoroughly operationally tested before dispatch. Your amigo
is arranted for hard are or soft are malfunction for a period of one year
from the date of purchase. The extent of this arranty is limited to
replacement or return-to-base repair at the discretion of the manufacturer.
Due to the adventurous nature of SCUBA diving this arranty specifically
excludes physical damage. The arranty also excludes unauthorised
modifications and/or unauthorized servicing.
Use of the amigo aivers any claim for consequential damages including loss
or damage to equipment or property, or personal injury or death.
In the unlikely event that your amigo malfunctions, if you are dissatisfied ith
any aspect of your amigo’s performance, or you have any comments or
suggestions then please contact http:// .aquacoustics.biz.

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Version 3.3 November 2016
3. Inventory
Your amigo package is provided ith the inventory listed in Table 2.
Table 2. Inventory
Quantity Description
2 amigo’s
2 Attachment Loops
1 Universal AC and/or USB Charger
1 Quick Reference Card
1 Instruction Manual (this manual)
1 Warranty Card
4. Environmental Issues
The lo po er transmissions from your amigo are comparable to many
naturally occurring under ater ultrasonic sound sources and are significantly
less than many boat mounted sonar and fish-finders. Your amigo has no
kno n adverse effects on marine flora or fauna.
Your amigo has been tested to identify if its transmissions present any
specific attraction to apex predators (sharks). The tests indicated no specific
reaction. Ho ever you are encouraged to treat all marine life ith respect.
In the event of any unusual threatening behaviour be prepared to descend
( ithin dive limits) and move cautiously a ay from the threat.
Your amigo is made from RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
components to minimize environmental impact. Ho ever the battery, case
and other components are not readily biodegradable. Recycling or disposal at
the end of service life should be in accordance ith sound environmental
practice and any legal requirements that might apply in your jurisdiction.
All of your dive equipment is a potential source of contamination hen moving
bet een dive sites. Ensure that your equipment, including your amigo, is
thoroughly cleaned ith fresh ater bet een dives at different geographical
locations.

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5. amigo Care
Thoroughly rinse your amigo ith fresh ater after each dive day.
Avoid leaving your amigo in direct sunlight or exposed to other sources of
excessive heat for extended periods.
Recharge your amigo before and after extended storage.
Do not apply solvents or lubricants to the case.
Your amigo has been designed to resist impact damage but the case may be
scratched by contact ith hard materials. Light scratches can be removed by
gentle polishing ith a non-solvent based metal polish or toothpaste and a
soft cloth. Avoid applying polish to the gold electrodes.
6. Transportation
Transportation of Lithium batteries are subject to specific IATA regulations.
The Lithium battery in your amigo has been tested to ensure that under dead-
short circuit conditions it ill not result in ignition. Ho ever it is the user's
responsibility to comply ith any regulations concerning the transportation of
Lithium batteries.
Ultrasonic emissions from your amigo ill not interfere ith aircraft navigation
systems. Ho ever electronic devices may be subject to usage restrictions
during flight.
Your amigo has been tested to ensure no adverse effect from short-term
exposure to soft X Rays (typically found in airport security).
7. Battery Charging
Do not attempt to charge you amigo hile it is et. Do not use the AC or USB
charger in et environments. Only use the equipment provided for
recharging.
Your amigo is provided ith a universal AC and/or a USB charger. Slide the
plug into the moulded socket on your amigo as sho n in Figure 2. Connect
the charger to an appropriate mains or 500 mA USB source. Charging ill
begin automatically. The LED display ill indicate charging status as sho n
in Table 3.

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A full charge from a depleted battery ill take approximately t o hours. Your
amigo ill indicate hen it is fully charged.
The charging plug can be removed at any time by ithdra ing it along the
axis of the po er cord. Your amigo ill automatically turn off.
If the battery in your amigo should become fully discharged the internal
charge management automatically provides a recovery cycle. The charging
display may not operate during deep discharge recovery. Normal charging
should resume ithin approximately 30 minutes.
The internal battery is protected from over-charge, over-discharge and
excessive temperature.
A universal DC charger is available as an optional accessory for charging
from a vehicle or boat electrical system. Please enquire at
http:// .aquacoustics.biz.
Figure 2. Attaching the Charging Plug

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8. Operation
Your amigo is designed to ork in transmit/receive pairs. Work through the
follo ing instructions (in air) to become familiar ith the operation of your
amigo. Refer to Figure 3 to identify key features.
Each amigo has a single Mode Button on the side of the case for changing
operating modes. The Mode Button is designed for either left or right-handed
use.
8.1 Po er On
Briefly depress the Mode Button once to turn on your amigo. All eight Light
Emitting Diodes (LEDs) ill turn on for a one second display test follo ed by a
battery condition and channel number display (refer to Table 3).
Figure 3. Key Features
Transducer
Mode Button
LED Display
Strap
Attachment
Charger Socket
& Electrodes
Rubber Grip

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The bottom red and top green LEDs ill indicate the channel. The central
three LEDs ill indicate battery condition.
If the battery is depleted (after about 50 hours of diving) your amigo ill
display t o central red LEDs and the channel before automatically turning off
after 30 seconds. This feature has been incorporated to ensure that your
amigo ill have sufficient po er to operate reliably throughout your dive and
to prevent deep-discharge of the battery. A depleted battery can be avoided
by recharging at the earliest opportunity hen a marginal battery condition is
indicated.
Table 3. LED Display Modes
LED Display Mode
Lamp test (maintained for 1 second on po er-on) follo ed by
battery condition display.
Battery condition is good. Red (default) channel.
Battery condition marginal. Recharge at the earliest opportunity.
Green (alternative) channel.
Battery is depleted. Green (alternative) channel. Range and
functionality may be adversely affected. The unit ill turn off.
Transmitting.
Receiving, no signal. Refer to Table 4 for receive display.
Charging (rising LED display).
Fully charged.
Error. Refer to Maintenance in Section 11.
Star indicates Flashing LED at approximately 1 second intervals.
8.2 Changing Channel
Ensure that both units are set to the same channel before commencing your
dive.
The channel can be changed by depressing the Mode Button five times at
about one second intervals during the battery condition display. This long key
sequence makes it virtually impossible to accidently change channel.

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8.3 Transmit Mode
From the battery display briefly depress the Mode Button once to activate
transmit mode. This is the default mode for diving. If transmit mode is not
activated ithin 30 seconds your amigo ill automatically shut do n.
In transmit mode the upper green LED ill flash approximately every second
as sho n in Table 3. A unit ill stay in transmit mode until receive mode is
activated, it is turned off, or it automatically turns off after 90 minutes out of
the ater.

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8.4 Receive Mode
Briefly depress the Mode Button once to activate receive mode. The LED
display ill indicate received signal strength as sho n in Table 5. The signal
strength is indicative of both direction and range.
Table 4. Receive Mode Display
LED Display Received Signal
No signal (flashing red LED at 2
second intervals).
Very eak.
Weak signal.
Poor.
Moderate.
Good.
Strong.
Very strong.
Maximum.
More LEDs lit equates to increasing received signal strength. Each LED in
the bar-graph display corresponds to approximately 1/8
th
of the distance to a
transmitter.
Each unit ill remain in receive mode for 5 minutes before it automatically
s itches back to transmit mode. This safety feature ensures that each unit
ill change to transmit mode if it has been inadvertently placed in receive or
should a diver be unable to operate it. If you are actively searching in receive
mode the 5 minute timeout is a useful reminder to check your remaining air,
depth and decompression limit. Briefly depress the Mode Button to return to
receive mode.
Briefly depress the Mode Button once at any time to s ap bet een transmit
and receive modes.